Reverse? We don't need no stinking reverse!!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 63
Likes: 20
From: Imperial, MO
Reverse? We don't need no stinking reverse!!
Okay... Started the car. As soon as I slid into reverse (yes, automatic) the entire car started to shudder and bog down (RPMs dropped). Slid into neutral (quite confused) and got a normal idle, no shudder. Slid back into reverse and there is no reverse. Car acts like it's still in neutral.
Fearing the worst on this one... thoughts or related links?
Fearing the worst on this one... thoughts or related links?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 63
Likes: 20
From: Imperial, MO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,138
Likes: 802
From: Espanola New Mexico
You may have just lost reverse, and is a possibility that the forward gears will be okay, sorry can't help with estimates on repairs, but hopefully somebody will chime in with costs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,012
Likes: 726
Okay... Started the car. As soon as I slid into reverse (yes, automatic) the entire car started to shudder and bog down (RPMs dropped). Slid into neutral (quite confused) and got a normal idle, no shudder. Slid back into reverse and there is no reverse. Car acts like it's still in neutral.
Fearing the worst on this one... thoughts or related links?
Fearing the worst on this one... thoughts or related links?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,767
Likes: 3,694
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
A good estimate is to double the price of the replacement part.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,767
Likes: 3,694
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Okay... Started the car. As soon as I slid into reverse (yes, automatic) the entire car started to shudder and bog down (RPMs dropped). Slid into neutral (quite confused) and got a normal idle, no shudder. Slid back into reverse and there is no reverse. Car acts like it's still in neutral.
Fearing the worst on this one... thoughts or related links?
Fearing the worst on this one... thoughts or related links?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
There is a nylon bushing at each end of the shift cable, when these fail, you will lose the ability to shift the transmission. Pull the shifter out of the center console and check that end first, if it's good, jack the back of the car and check where the cable connects to the transmission on the right hand side.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 63
Likes: 20
From: Imperial, MO
Ordered a remanufactured tranny from JEGS for $3k and lined up a local shop to do the install for $1250, as this is WAY beyond my DIY skill set. Hope to be back on the road in a few weeks.
Thanks for ALL the responses!
Brad-in-STL
Last edited by Brad-in-STL; Sep 5, 2025 at 09:19 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 940
From: Orlando Florida
Wait, you already ordered a trans? I don’t have an auto in my car, but I’ve had them in plenty of others — the advice to make sure the shifter is functioning is dead on. I know access at trans is limited, but it would really suck to spend $4K and be in the same place.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,453
Likes: 1,158
From: Dyer, IN
What led you to a transmission diagnosis?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,767
Likes: 3,694
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Good luck. Remanufactured trans is the better route than a rebuilt trans that uses the same type of stock parts that originally failed. It sounds based on your original description that it was not just the shift cable or grommets that failed, rather it was the trans since you were able to still shift between (the failed) gears correct?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 63
Likes: 20
From: Imperial, MO
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 63
Likes: 20
From: Imperial, MO
Not exactly true... driving to the repair shop I discovered I had first and third gear only.
But I'm back on the road again! Chad and his team at CBI Streetcars ((314) 952-9883) in Desoto MO, has a FB page) got me in as soon as the tranny arrived and did the swap job in less than two days, and at a great price! I highly recommend these guys if you live in the greater St. Louis area. I knew I was at the right place when I pulled up to their lot which had several Vette's in waiting!
Thanks Chad!
Brad-in-STL
But I'm back on the road again! Chad and his team at CBI Streetcars ((314) 952-9883) in Desoto MO, has a FB page) got me in as soon as the tranny arrived and did the swap job in less than two days, and at a great price! I highly recommend these guys if you live in the greater St. Louis area. I knew I was at the right place when I pulled up to their lot which had several Vette's in waiting!
Thanks Chad!
Brad-in-STL
Racer
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 270
Likes: 64
From: Virginia
Not exactly true... driving to the repair shop I discovered I had first and third gear only.
But I'm back on the road again! Chad and his team at CBI Streetcars ((314) 952-9883) in Desoto MO, has a FB page) got me in as soon as the tranny arrived and did the swap job in less than two days, and at a great price! I highly recommend these guys if you live in the greater St. Louis area. I knew I was at the right place when I pulled up to their lot which had several Vette's in waiting!
Thanks Chad!
Brad-in-STL
But I'm back on the road again! Chad and his team at CBI Streetcars ((314) 952-9883) in Desoto MO, has a FB page) got me in as soon as the tranny arrived and did the swap job in less than two days, and at a great price! I highly recommend these guys if you live in the greater St. Louis area. I knew I was at the right place when I pulled up to their lot which had several Vette's in waiting!
Thanks Chad!
Brad-in-STL